newbobooks Chapter 218 Destiny
Chapter 218 Destiny
The spring chill was still lingering, and the weather was unpredictable. Meng Fuqing's description of the cold wave was not just empty talk. In just one night, the trees were covered with thin icicles, and the ground was covered with frost, as if we had been transported to a world of ice and snow in an instant.
Meng Fuqing left the carriage with Yan He and went alone to the entrance of a mountain cave.
After waking up early in the morning, she placed the imperial advisor in this cave.
"Has the Imperial Advisor made up his mind?"
This highly renowned imperial advisor was not from the Great Yan, but came from the Western Regions. Therefore, he had an exotic appearance.
He sat motionless in the cold, damp cave, his eyes closed, his expression serene, as if seated on a lotus throne, showing no trace of the wretchedness of a prisoner.
"Since the Imperial Advisor can predict good and bad fortune based on celestial phenomena, can't he see that the Great Yan is already on the verge of collapse? Choosing another wise ruler would be the wise thing to do."
Upon hearing this, Kumārajīva slowly opened his eyes. "Is the enlightened ruler you speak of, young lady? To attempt to seize power over the world as a woman is contrary to the principles of Heaven..."
Meng Fuqing was slightly surprised, "Tianhe? Is the current emperor a eunuch?"
She narrowed her eyes slightly, her voice growing deeper, "The life of the Imperial Advisor is still in the hands of a mere woman like me. If I can control your life, the life of the Yang family, and even the life of the Emperor, how could I not control the power of the world?"
Kumo could not hide his surprise at Meng Fuqing's arrogant words.
He lowered his eyes, and after a moment, his aged voice rang out again, "As the Grand Preceptor of the Great Yan Kingdom, this humble monk does not wish to see the people suffer. If I could obtain Miss Meng's birth date and time, I would calculate her destiny and then make a decision. What do you say?"
Meng Fuqing nodded in satisfaction, "That's excellent."
She then revealed her birth date and time.
Kumārajīva closed his eyes again, his fingertips hidden under his wide sleeves constantly calculating. After a short while, he suddenly opened his eyes and his gaze fell directly on Meng Fuqing.
"you……"
Meng Fuqing was eager to hear what he would say, to see if this national advisor could discern her origins beyond his ability to interpret celestial phenomena. A look of anticipation inevitably appeared on her face.
Kumarajiva looked surprised and uncertain. "Your destiny has been altered?"
With a slight twitch of his brow, Meng Fuqing did not speak immediately, indicating that this person indeed possessed some skill.
“The Imperial Preceptor has been by the Emperor’s side for many years and should know what to ask and what not to ask.” Meng Fuqing walked slowly to Kumo and looked down at him.
"The Imperial Advisor is a rare person who can see the secrets of heaven. No wonder His Majesty values him so highly. As for status, power, or anything else, as long as the Imperial Advisor pledges allegiance to me, I can give you anything the Emperor and the Yang family can give you."
A flicker of struggle crossed Kumārajīva's eyes, but it vanished in an instant. He closed his eyes again. "What do you want me to do?"
A smile appeared on Meng Fuqing's face as he said, "The people will surely believe what the Imperial Advisor says. I beg the Imperial Advisor to lend me a hand."
Inside the palace, a beautiful woman with a captivating figure collapsed into the Emperor's arms, tears streaming down her face.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty must avenge Heng'er! My entire family was killed so tragically!"
Wen Du's phoenix eyes were filled with pity. He gently pulled the sobbing girl into his arms and comforted her softly, "Heng'er, this matter is rather strange..."
Yang Xueheng raised her tear-streaked face, "Your Majesty, what kind of power could wipe out my entire Yang family right under the Emperor's nose..."
The person behind this isn't just targeting my family; they're clearly provoking His Majesty! My anxiety is for His Majesty's sake!
Wen Du's face instantly darkened. He stood up and paced back and forth, unable to help but rub his forehead. "My beloved consort is right, but last night no one noticed the thief's whereabouts. It will take some time to find out who is behind it all."
Yang Xueheng's eyes were bloodshot, and her beautiful face was now tinged with sorrow and a hint of ferocity. She walked gracefully to the emperor.
"A few days ago, the sixth son of the Cui family had a falling out with my own brother, and now, just a few days later, my family has suffered such a calamity? How can I not be suspicious..."
"The sixth son of the Cui family used to be close to Wu Xin's eldest son. The Cui family may not amount to anything, but what if they collude with the rebels and wipe out my entire family?"
Wen Du stood frozen in place. "The Cui family is a century-old family that has produced great Confucian scholars. Their descendants would never act in such a way."
His tone was firm, and as he finished speaking, tears welled up in Yang Xueheng's peach blossom eyes again. "My father is merely a fifth-rank honest official. How could he offend such a vicious and wicked person?"
Upon seeing her cry, Wen Du immediately stepped forward to wipe away her tears, his tone softening involuntarily, "My beloved consort, do not worry, I will certainly give you an explanation."
"Your Majesty..." Yang Xueheng softly collapsed into the Emperor's arms, her beautiful eyes filled with tears, looking utterly pitiful.
"No matter who it is, Your Majesty, please do not keep it from me."
"I have said that I will never deceive Heng'er in this lifetime."
When the news reached the Empress's ears, her hand holding the brush paused, and a slight imperfection appeared on the fine Xuan paper.
"Consort Chen has made baseless accusations against the Empress without any evidence, yet His Majesty has let it go so easily..."
"Shut up!" an elderly female official standing beside the Empress snapped. "Get down here right now!"
The palace maid didn't say another word and left the study tremblingly.
"Why bother? I'm used to it." The Empress crumpled the flawed paper into a ball and threw it on the ground.
"With the world in chaos, Your Majesty has no one to rely on. Now that the Yang family, whom you have always been able to rely on, is gone, you naturally cannot afford to lose the Cui family as well."
As long as my family doesn't fall, Yang Xueheng will always be subordinate to me. Thinking this way, life in the palace isn't so bad after all.
"Your Majesty..." The female official's voice seemed to carry a sigh.
She lowered her voice, "Your Majesty has met the wrong person."
The Empress put down her brush, straightened up, and looked out the window at the icicles on the tree branches.
Suddenly, I remembered the carefree days when I was still a young lady confined to my room.
All that talk of childhood sweethearts and the deep affection between the emperor and empress was a lie; shaking her head and sighing at the tragic ending made her even more disgusted.
They had only studied together at the Cui family's private school, with the men and women taught by different teachers, so how could they have any deep affection for each other?
One day, Wen Du stopped her and confessed his feelings to her in a sincere and earnest tone.
She later learned that his feelings were fake; he only wanted to use the Cui family's influence to ascend the throne.
Freedom, freedom is what she craves now.
Just as she was lost in thought, she suddenly heard a commotion outside the hall, and then someone burst into the study.
The young eunuch was covered in sweat and his voice was unsteady. "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! His Majesty is not feeling well..."
Explain yourself!
"The imperial physician said that His Majesty seems to have suffered a stroke..."
The Empress was stunned for a moment, a look of absurdity appearing on her face. After recovering, she asked, "Is the person still alive?"
"The imperial physicians are treating him..."